There are a surprising number of vehicles that cannot use traditional snowchains, the types that put chain on the inside of the wheel as well as on the tread. This is usually because there is not enough space between the wheels and the shock absorbers; this can be a problem for ordinary SUVs and 4x4s as well as for high performance cars.

You will find this important information in your car handbook - please check this before using your snowchains! Our database is intended to do the basic work for you but, with so many new vehicles and tyre sizes, it should only ever be treated as a guide.

Tyre size

Please also check your tyre size - if you buy incorrectly-sized chains they will be either too tight or too loose.

Ladder track chains

The good news is that car handbooks usually only refer to "traditional snowchains". Ladder track chains such as the Polaire GRIP and Spikes-Spider range only put chain over the tyre tread, so are not subject to these restrictions. They are also ideal for use on rear wheel drives where there is minimal space between the top of the wheel and the wheel arch.

Yakima roof bars package - S16B bars with K534 kit

Our Price£194.95

Code: YK_K534_S16B_01

In Stock

Overview:

Whispbar™ is without any doubt the most advanced roof bar system on the planet. It's easy to fit, is almost silent in use, and has negligible impact on fuel consumption. And because it looks superb you're likely to leave it in place semi-permanently. With 420mm of adjustment on each bar, a SmartFoot™ which allows the same feet to be used for all fixing systems from Fixpoints to roof rails, and fitting kits at only £25 a pop, it's also your best choice for long term value.

Whispbar™ is without any doubt the most advanced roof bar system on the planet. It's easy to fit, is almost silent in use, and has negligible impact on fuel consumption. And because it looks superb you're likely to leave it in place semi-permanently. With 420mm of adjustment on each bar, a SmartFoot™ which allows the same feet to be used for all fixing systems from Fixpoints to roof rails, and fitting kits at only £25 a pop, it's also your best choice for long term value.

Whispbar roof bars are surely the most stylish, best designed, best engineered and arguably best value quality roof bars on the worldwide market. They are certainly the quietest. The big deal is the cross bar, an aluminium wing-shaped blade which removes almost all the irritating whistle normally associated with exposed roof bars. Not only are Whispbar roof racks whisper quiet but they create so little drag that they can be left in place without any apparent effect on fuel consumption. This is a serious benefit, especially if you use roof bars frequently and can't always be bothered to remove them when not in use - modern roof bar fixings are very safe but can be fiddly to fit and remove. And if you also agree with us that these bars are likely to enhance the looks of your car, then the point is made.

These aren’t cheap bars, so what’s the “best value” claim? Part of the genius of the Whispbar system is that the same 'SmartFoot' is used for every type of roof type, including raised roof rails, flush mounted roof rails, T-tracks, Fixpoints, clamp on systems, even cars with gutters – it’s just a question of which adapter kit you use, and kits only cost £24.95. Unless you move e.g. from a wide vehicle to a narrow one you'll only need to buy a new adapter kit when you change car; there's 420mm of length adjustment on each through bar. No other roof bar system provides such flexibility, and it's unlikely that any other other premium roof bar system will prove to be such good long term value.

Other features and specifications:

These bars look good and sound good, but they also feel good. They're beautifully made, are supplied fully assembled, and are relatively quick to fit.

They have a maximum loading limit of 75kg - but please check your vehicle's load limit as it may be less than this.

All roof boxes, and all accessories that can be fitted to Atera or Thule T-track aluminium bars, can be fitted to Whispbars.

Other manufacturers supply a rubber strip that you need to cut and press into the bar between the accessory fixings. But not Whispbar – the SmartFill rubber is already in place, within the slot. Another first for Whispbar!

When in due course you want to fit your Whispbars to a different vehicle you may need to adjust the position of the Smartfeet on the bars. If there isn't sufficient adjustment on your existing Whispbars you'll need to buy a pair of longer or shorter bars - we'll list these options in due course. But you can always re-use the SmartFeet - this is yet another first for Whispbar.

You want to switch from the through bar look to the flush bar look? No problem. You just need another pair of bars (usually a shorter pair). The SmartFoot system really is this smart!

Locks are supplied as standard.

Please note that because Whispbars are 85mm wide you will need T-track adapters to fit almost all products except a limited range of roof boxes. If you are buying Whispbars on their own, check your roof box fittings to see if they are wide enough and be sure to order what you need!

The Whispbar brand is owned by Yakima, which along with Thule is one of the two largest brands in the global car rack systems sector. Whispbar was the culmination of many years of design and innovation by Hubco Automotive; their chief designer transferred his aeronautical design experience and know how to the roof rack sector, working closely with the engineering school at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Whispbar were launched at the Frankfurt Automechanika trade fair in 2008, since when many other roof bar manufacturers have launched low drag / low noise roof bars. But none of these is as efficient, as low drag, as Whispbar, partly because Whispbar, who created the whole concept and underpinned the designs with serious science, also patented crucial aspects of their design!

To summarise, Whispbar is the bells and whistles system, without the whistles!

As an arm twister, a thank you for buying from us, and to show off these incredibly useful products, we'll include one free Fasty HANDY with every set of bars you buy, while stocks last - see pop up link for details.

The aim of this note is to persuade you that kayaks should always be tied to the carrying vehicle at both bow and stern.

Untied kayaks have, in our experience, the greatest potential for a roof bar or kayak carrier failure. The massive forces that untied kayaks can generate have even been known to snap roof bar fixing bolts with the result that a complete assembly of roof bars and kayaks has ended up on the road. We know that this has happened with almost every brand of roof bar, and regardless of whether the kayaks are on a special carrier or just strapped to the bars.

You need to fix bow and stern lines, probably using the front and rear screw-in towing eyes to get strong and accessible fixing points on the vehicle. Kayak shops should be able to provide suitable 'paracord' for this purpose. Alternatively, we have sets of straps available that are perfect for the job and are really easy to use. Yakima make some excellent Bow/Stern tie down straps and Thule makes the QuickDraw 838 which we have listed together with every kayak carrier we sell.

Please note that kayaks should be strapped to the roof bars, or to kayak carriers, using straps that are suitable for the purpose, e.g. 25mm polypropylene straps with strong buckles. Bungee cords must never be used.

Please also note that all roof bar instructions point out the dangers of carrying unsecured long items, as of course do all kayak carrier instructions.

If you tie down your kayaks properly you almost certainly won't experience a product failure. If you don't you may or may not get away with it. If there is a disaster and the kayaks end up on the road, separated from the vehicle, then you were not using tie downs and you have subjected the roof bars to forces for which they were not designed. The costs of sorting this out are yours, not ours, and you may also have difficulties with your insurers.

We're sorry to be so firm about this, but "things coming off the tops of cars" is the stuff of nightmares, and we want to do all we can to prevent accidents of this sort from happening.

Delivery charges and arrangements:

We charge a contribution towards delivery costs, depending on what you order, where you live, and how quickly you want the goods.

For most UK addresses, the charge for our two to three day service is £5.50 (£9.50 for orders including a roof box) and our charge for Next Working Day deliveries is £8.50 (£12.50 for orders involving a roof box). AutoSock, shoe chains, RUD i-Sock, and small spare parts, are charged £3.95 (Royal Mail Tracked), £4.95 (Royal Mail Express Tracked) or £5.95 (express courier, usually Next Working Day).

There are different charges for any delivery including a sea crossing, and deliveries to Skye - we will contact you with a quote on receipt of order.

Orders for Next Working Day delivery need to be received by 4.00pm.

There are no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays, except for postable items where Royal Mail has a Saturday delivery. Next Working Day orders placed on a Friday will be delivered on the Monday, Next Working Day orders placed on a Saturday will be delivered on the Tuesday.

We are very flexible with our deliveries and will aim to deliver on a day and at an address which suits you. Goods can usually be left without signature - we prefer this with roof boxes. There's a "Special Delivery Instructions" box in the checkout area where we'll ask you to choose a typical instruction and then amend it to suit your particular requirements.

No retailer or courier company can ever "guarantee" a Next Working Day delivery. All courier companies occasionally have the same transport problems as can happen to everyone else, including snow blocked roads, closed roads, traffic jams, mechanical breakdown, an inability to find the delivery address, or to gain access to it if, for example, it's in a block of flats. We work with some of the best couriers in the business, and overall they provide an outstanding service.

Payment options:

We take the following cards, and also PayPal. Please note that the entry on your card statement will be from "The Roof Box Company".

Secure payments

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